"He's simply here to learn more about us," church spokesman MikeOtterson said. "We want him to know what the church does, what itswork is."

Sharpton was debating with an atheist author when he said: "As for theone Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God willdefeat him anyways, so don't worry about that; that's a temporarysituation."

Sharpton, a Pentecostal minister who urged the firing of Don Imusafter the radio host's racially insensitive remarks, said his wordswere taken out of context. But he immediately called elders of the12.5 million-member church to apologize.

Monday, on a live broadcast of his radio show from a church-ownedbroadcast center in Salt Lake City, Sharpton said he respects Mormonsas Christians and believers. He called any perceived friction betweenhimself and the church a "fabricated controversy."

"Whatever differences I have with their denomination or religion hadnothing to do with my respect of their faith," Sharpton said.

Officially, the church will not comment on Romney's campaign andmaintains a position of political neutrality. Church leaders considerthe flap over Sharpton's comments closed but appreciated his apologyimmediately afterward, Otterson said.

On the air, Sharpton said he and Elder M. Russell Ballard, of thechurch's governing board of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, metover dinner Sunday night and "talked very little, if at all" about thecomments. Instead, Sharpton said, they discussed shared concerns andplaces where their faiths can work together.

"This is not politics," Sharpton said. "This is about what youfundamentally, firmly believe. I did not want to leave it as 'we gotpast an issue.'"

The dinner was followed by a tour Monday morning of church facilities,including a humanitarian aid center from which the church distributesclothes, food and medical supplies around the world.